Phnom penh: A top World Bank official visited the Institute of Technology of Cambodia (ITC) on Monday to assess a major initiative aimed at modernising the nation's higher education system.

According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, H.E. Samuel Munzele Maimbo, the bank's Vice President for Budget, Performance Review, and Strategic Planning, was joined by H.E. Dr. San Vatthana, State Secretary of Cambodia's Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport. Together, they reviewed the Second Higher Education Improvement Project (HEIP II), a joint effort between the Royal Government of Cambodia and the World Bank.

During the visit, ITC Director H.E. Professor Po Kimtho outlined key achievements under the project, including upgraded curricula, enhanced campus infrastructure, and new research initiatives designed to drive national development. The delegation also toured institutional laboratories and reviewed several research projects with strong commercial and industrial potential.

According to the ITC director, HEIP II is built around three core goals: Quality and Relevance, Research Capacity, and Governance. The project aims to align higher education with labor market needs, build a platform for training researchers, and strengthen institutional administration to ensure autonomy, transparency, accountability, efficiency, and long-term sustainability.

The project directly invests in the Department of Higher Education and nine targeted public institutions, while also offering competitive research grants and governance support to public and private universities across Cambodia.